New tile collection features nature designs

Friday

Jan 31, 2014 at 4:36 PMJan 31, 2014 at 4:36 PM

By Nicole GregoryThe Orange County Register

Charley Harper was a conservationist and artist who created colorful modern geometric images of birds and other animals in silk screens, books, paintings and decorative pieces. Though Harper died in 2007, his work continues to be popular. Now Motawi Tileworks has the exclusive rights to produce a new collection of Harper designs in tiles that capture his style.They are available through the Motawi website, motawi.com.Gallery owner Judy Schroeder, herself a watercolor artist, remembers her first encounter with Harper’s work. “In the 1950s, there was this little bitty magazine called Ford Times — when you bought a new Ford you got this magazine,” she says. “It had articles that were meant to encourage you to drive across the country. And the covers had watercolor illustrations — I noticed Charlie Harper’s work because of his design.”Schroeder says the Harper tiles are popular with nature lovers who have an appreciation for art and design.MORE INFORMATIONVisit charleyharperartstudio.com (look for “decorative tiles”)McClatchy-Tribune Information Services